Sluice for tubular dispatch systems



July 15, 1930. w. HO'HNE 1,770,695

' swrcza FOR TUBULAR DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed March 14, 1929 2 Shens-Sheet1 Jr: 0 e22 fa r )file/izz .7/572 220 3y .Fufiy 15,1930. w. HOHNE1,770,696

SLUICE FOR TUBULAR DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed March 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet2 fihq 2 Patented July 15, 1930 WILHELIII HQHNE, OFBERLIN-CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO DEUTSCHE TELEPHONWERKE UNI)KJLBELINDUSTRIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F BERLIN,

GERMANY snurcn roe resonanmsrar a: SYSTEMS Q Application filed March14:, 1929, Serial No. 248,875, and in Germany June 8, 19m).

The present invention relates to a conveying tube sluice for tubulardispatch systems which substantially consists of a chamber provided onboth sides with automatic closures, and from which chamber thecontainerpasses to the outside after having passed through both closures. Such adouble sluice is adapted to effect the discharge of the container fromthe conveying tube in such a manner that the compressed air cannot passdirectly into the atmosphere, or when operating with suction air theatmospheric air cannot directly enter the conveying tube, but can onlyflow into the sluice chamber from which it is then sucked by the blower.In the known sluices of this type (see German specification 359034=) theclosures are constructed in the form of flaps which are opened by theincoming container by a feeler lever and after the passage of thecontainer are returned into the closing position by a weight or byspring action. p

According to'the present invention the closure members of the chamberare no longer in the form of simple hinged flaps, but in the form ofsliding flaps which are located with a slight gap between two oppositelydisposed ends of the conveying tube and are hingedly connected to theiroperating lever so that the sliding flap is caused to bear automaticallyin a fluid tight manner against one or other end of the conveyingtube,according as to whether the operation is being effected by compressedair or by suction, by the action of the pressure ratio set up during theoperation. In comparison with the above earlier flaps and the largeamount of space'required therefor a considerable simplification isobtained in this manner.

At higher pressures the known device for relieving the load from thesliding flap is preferably used so that such flap is only subjected toload at the times at which it 1s m the closing position, whilst it isrelieved of load when it is required to be moved. In connection with theupper closure first reached by the container this relieving of load iseffected in the known manner by throttling equalizing apertures whichform communication between the sliding fiap chamber and the portion ofthe conveying tube located in front of such flap, whilst in connectionwith the lower closure the relieving of the load is effected by apressure equalizing valve which is opened in the known manner by thecontainer passingthroughthe sluice chamber by means of a feeler leverand the like.

As the sliding flap is arranged so as to be freely movable itsfrictional resistance is very low. Consequently it is also possible toprovide the sliding flap with a leather or rubber covering and so forthin order to obtain an eflicient fluid-tight closure in the closingposition.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. The figuresonly show the upper sliding flap of the two sliding fiaps of the doublesluice, the lower sliding flap being assumed to be constructed in asimilar manner.

Within the chamber K closed on all sides the openings m and m of theincoming conveying tube F and the outgoing conveying tube F are oppositeone another. Between the two there is located a sliding flap or closuremember S, formed for example as a hollow body, which is withdrawntowards the right against the action of the spring by means of an arm 0pivotally mounted at (Z when the incoming container pushes the feelerlever h laterally, this lever being secured to the shaft (Z. By reasonof the pin and slot connection a the arm 0 is capable of moving in anarc whilst the sliding flap S can move horizontally. It will be understood that by virtue of the said pin and slot connection the slidingflap S may also have a movement toward and from the openings m m at theneighboring ends of the tubes F F respectively, to bear tightly againstone or the other of said ends, and to seal it. This movement lengthwiseof the gap between the tube ends is obtained by differences inairpressure. The sliding flap S is shown in Fig. l in such an air supportedposition sealing the upper tube-opening. The sliding flap S is supportedin the withdrawn position by 'the roller 5'. Said flap will notdisengage from this roller until it has been completely moved into thegap, and then seats itself on one tube end or the other, as described.Such a support is unnecessary when the pivotal point of the sliding flapis supported by two springs as shown in Figure 2, tending to hold it inthe middle of the gap between the two conveying tubes. The lateralmovement of the sliding flap is limited by the stops 2), '0. The slidingflap may be .xmooth and ground, it may also, as hereinhefore described,be provided with a covering of leather, rubber or the like for obtaininga fiuid-tight joint. This construction as a rule renders it necessaryeven with small pressures to relieve the load from the sliding flap, asdescribed above, so as to enable it to be withdrawn. A sliding flap withrubber packing is shown by way of example in igure 2. The sliding flapis of wedge shape and is provided for the purpose of strengthening itwith a metal insertion B and its front edge with a metal protectingcovering P, by means of which it slides over the openings of theconveying tubes. or the purpose of obtaining free movement the pivot ofthe pin-and-slot connection N is mounted in the slot of the operatinglever C by means of two springs H. The stop V is shown adjustable inFig. 2, so as to variably limit the transverse movement of the slidingflap in the gap between the open tube ends.

The mechanism for moving the sliding flap may be constructed in anysuitable mannet. The drawings show the simplest form of construction bymeans of which blows in the rod mechanism are eliminated.

The single chamber with the sliding flap can also be used as a passingstation or a closure for a conveying tube without the second chamber.

I claim:

1. In a sluice for a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system thecombination with the open end of said tube of a closure member adaptedto be freely movable between oppositely disposed openings of saidconveying tube, said closure member being adapted to move from one ofsaid openings to the other, to bear in a fluid-tight manner against oneof the openings of said conveying tube by reason of the pressure actingthereon, said closure member being also movable transversely and meansfor actu- 'ating said closure member in a transverse direction, saidmeans including a shaft, a lever secured to said shaft and projectinginto said tube into the path of a contamer adapted to pass therethrough,a second lever keyed at one end to said shaft, a pm and slot connectionbetween the other end of said lever and said closure member, and aspring acting upon said levers and normally holding them in a positionin which the first mentioned lever projects into the path of thecontainer when the second mentioned lever holds the closure member inits closed position.

2. In a sluice for a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system thecombination with the open end of said tube of a closure member adaptedto be freely movable between oppositely disposed openings of saidconveying tube, said closure member being adapted to bear in afluid-tight manner against one of the openings of said conveying tube byreason of the pressure acting thereon, and means for actuating saidclosure member, said closure member consisting of a rubber wedge, alayer of metal extending therethrough for strengthening purposes, and ametal tip over the forward end 7 of said rubber wedge.

3. In a sluice according to claim 2, wherein springs are located in saidslot and engage with said pin so as normally to retain the closurememberin the median position.

4. In a sluice for a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a small gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a flat closure member consisting of an essentially rigidflap hingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within thesaid gap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the slidingin of the said flap but not of the said lever, and allowing a freemovement of the said flap under the action of the operating air pressure in the direction of the axis of the conveying tube to and from theone and the other of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, foreffecting an air-tight closure of one or the other of such openings.

5. In a sluice for a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a flat closure member consisting of an essentially rigidflap hingedly connected to the end'of said lever and slidable within thesaid gap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the slidingin of the said flap but not of the said lever, and allowing a freemovement of the said flap under the action of the operating air pressurein the direction of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the oneand the other of the tubeopenmgs lying adjacent to said gap, foreffecting an air-tight closure of one or the other of such openings, thehinge point of the said flap being located in a slot provided in thesaid lever.

6. In a sluice for a conveying tube of a lar ispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged 1n theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe openings, the

luice, a fiat closure member consisting of an ssentially rigid flaphingedly connected to he end of said lever and slidable within the gap,the said gap being so dimensioned s to allow only the sliding in of thesaid up but not of the said lever, and allowing a ree movement or" thesaid flap under the action of the operating air pressure in thedirection of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the one and theother of the tube-openings lying adjacent to the said gap, for effectingan air-tightclosure of one or the other of such openings, a pin-andslotconnection between the said lever and the hinge point of said flap, anda system of springs arranged within said slot and adapt- 1. a the ed fornormally holding aid hinge point in a median position.

7. In a sluice tor a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a fiat closure member consisting of an essentially rigidflap hingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within thesaid gap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the slidingin of the said flap but not of the said lever, and allowing a freemovement of the said flap under the action of the operating air pressurein the direction of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the oneand the other of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, foreit'ecting an air-tight closure of one or the other 01 such hinge pointoi the said flap being located in a slot provided in the said lever, andmeans for supporting said flap during its movement into and out of thesaid gap.

8. In a sluice tor a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe slums, a fiat closure member consi ting of an essentially rigid flaphingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within the saltgap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the sliding inof the said flap but not of the said lever, and allowing a free movementof the said flap under the action or" the operating air pressure in thedirection of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the one and theother of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, for e'tlecting anair-tight closure of one or the other of such openings, the hinge pointof the said flap being located in a slot provided in the sa d lever, anda roller arranged adjacent to said gap, for supporting the said flapduring its movement into and out of the gap.

9. In a sluice tor a conveying tube a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a flat closuremember consisting of an essentially rigid flaphingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within the saidgap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the sliding inof the said flap but not 01 the said lever, and allowing a free movementof the said flap under the action of the operating air pressure in thedirection of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the one and theother of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, for effecting anair-tight closure of one or the other of such openings, and adjustablemeans for variably limiting the sliding movement of the said flap in thesaid gap.

10. In a sluice for a conveying tube oi a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for being swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a flat closure member consisting of an essentially rigidflap hingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within thesaid gap, the said gap being so dimensioned as to allow only the slidingin of the said flap but not of the said lever, and allowing a freemovement of the said flap under the action of the operating air pressurein the direction of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the oneand the other of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, foreffecting an air-tight closure of one or the other of such openings, thesaid flap being provided with a covering of elastic material.

11. In a sluice tor a conveying tube of a tubular dispatch system, thecombination of a sluice-chamber containing a gap arranged in theconveying tube, a lever arranged for bein swung by a container enteringthe sluice, a flat closure member consisting of an essentially rigidflap hingedly connected to the end of said lever and slidable within thesaid gap, the said gap beng so dimensioned as to allow only the slidingin of the said flap but not or" the said lever, and allowing a freemovement of the said fiap under the action of the operating air pressurein the direction of the axis of the conveying tube to and from the oneand the other of the tube-openings lying adjacent to said gap, foreffecting an air-tight closure of one or the other of such openings, thesaid flap consisting of a rubber wedge, a layer of metal extendingtherein for strengthening purposes, and a metal tip covering the forwardend of said rubber wedge.

12. In a pneumatic conveying system, a conveying tube having twoportions with ends spaced from each other to form a gap, a casingenclosing said tube portions at their gap, a closure member movabletransversely into and out of said gap, and also movable from one of saidtube ends to the other, to seal either tube end, and mechanism locatedwithin said casing and having a portion projecting into one of said tubeportions to be actuated by an article traveling in said tube portion, 00effect transverse movement of said closure member while leaving suchmember free to move from one tube end to the other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM HCHN E.

